much given 〈◊〉 Prodigality and Slothfulness that Estates are oftner spent anâ— sold than in any other Countrey They think it a piece of frugâ—lity beneath a Gentleman 〈◊〉 bargain before hand or to couâ—â— afterward for what they eat 〈◊〉 any place though the rate 〈◊〉 most unreasonable whereby 〈◊〉 comes to passe that Cooks Vintners Inn-keepers and such mean fellows enrich themselves and begger and in 〈◊〉 over the Gentry In a word by their prodigality it comes to pass that not only those but Taylors Dancing-Masters and such Trifling Fellows arrive to that riches and pride as to ride 〈◊〉 their Coaches keep their â—â—mmer Houses to be served 〈◊〉 Plate c. an insolence insuportable in other well governed Nations For variety of Divertisements Sports and Recreations â—o Nation doth excell the English The King hath his Forests â—hases and Parks full of variety of Game hunting Red and Fallow Deer Foxes Others Hawking his Paddock Courses Horse Races c. â—broad and at home Tennis Baloon Biliards Comedies Masks c. The Nobility and chief Gentry have their Parks Warrens Decoyes Paddock-Courses Horse Races Hunting Coursing Fishing Fowling Hawking Setting Dogs Tumblers Lurchers Duck-hunting Cock fighting Tennis Bowling Biliards Tables Chesse Draughts Cards Dice Catches Questions Purposes Comedies Dancing Singing all sorts of Musical Instruments c. The Citizens and Peasants have Hand-Ball Foot-Ball Skitles 〈◊〉 Nine Pins Shovel-board Stoâ—-Ball Goffe Trol Madam Cuagels Bear-baiting Bull-baiting Bow and Arrow Throwing at Cocks Shuttle-cock Bowling Quaits Leaping Wrestling Pitching the Barre and Ringing of Bells a Recreation used in no other Countrey of the World Amongst these Cock-fighting may seem too childish and unsuitable for the Gentry and 〈◊〉 the Common People Bullâ—â—iting and Bear-baiting may â—â—em too cruel and for the â—itizens Foot-ball very uncivil 〈◊〉 rude For Weights and Measures at â—â—esent used in England there â—â—ve been very many excellent â—â—atutes and Ordinances and â—undance of care taken by our â—ncestors to prevent all cheating and deceit therein By the 27th Chapter of â—agna Charta the Weights and â—easures ought to be the same yet all England and those to 〈◊〉 according to the Kings â—â—andards of Weights and Meaâ—â—res kept by a special Officer 〈◊〉 his House called the Clerk 〈◊〉 Comptroller of the Market Of Weights there are two sorts used at present thorowout all England viz. Troy Weight and Avoirdupois In Troy weight 24 grains of Wheat make a Penny weight Sterling 20 Penny weight make an Ounce 12 Ounces make a Pound so there are 480 Grains in the Ounce and 5760 Grains in the Pound By this Weight are weighed Pearls Pretious Stones Gold Silver Bread and all manner of Corn and Grain and this Weight the Apothecaries do or ought to use though by other divisions and denominations their least Measure is a Grain 20 Grains make a Scruple markt ℈ 3 Scruples make a Drach markt Ê’ 8 Drachmes make an Ounce markt â„¥ 12 Ounces make a Pound markt lb Avoir du pois hath 16 Ounces to the Pound but then the Ounce Avoir du pois is lighter than the Ounce Troy by 42 Grains in 480 that is neer a 12th part so that the Avoir du pois Ounce containeth but 438 Grains and is as 73 to 80 that is 73 Ounces Troy is as much as 80 Ounces Avoirdupois and 60 Pound Avoirdupois is equal to 73 Pounds Troy and 14 Ounces Troy and a half and the 10th part of a Troy Ounce make 16 Ounces Avoirdupois By this Weight are weighed in England all Grocery Wares Flesh Butter Cheese Iron Hemp Flax Tallow Wax Wooll Lead Steel also all things whereof comes waste and therefore 112 l. Avoirdupois is called a hundred weight and 56 l. half a hundred and 28 l. a quarter of a hundred oâ— a Tod Eight Pounds Avoirdupois amongst the Butchers is called a Stone Note that when Wheat is at 5 s. the Bushel then the Penny Wheaten Loaf is by Statute to weight 11 Ounces Troy and 〈◊〉 Half penny White Loaves to weigh as much and the Houshold Penny Loaf to weigh 1â— Troy Ounces and two third part of an Ounce and so more 〈◊〉 less proportionably All Measures in England are either Applicative or Receptive The smallest Mensura applicationis or applicative measure â—s a Barly Corn whereof 3 in length make a fingers breadth or Inch 4 Inches make a Handful 3 Handful a Foot 1 Foot and a half makes a Cubit 2 Cubits a Yard 1 Yard and a quarter makes an Ell 5 Foot make Geometrical Pace 6 Foot a â—athom 16 Foot and a half make a Perch Pole or Rod 〈◊〉 Perch make a Furlong 8 â—urlongs or 320 Perch make English Mile which according to the Statute of 11 H. 7. â—ight to be 1760 Yards or â—80 Foot that is 280 Foot more than the Italian Mile 60 Miles or more exactly 69 English Miles and a half make a Degree and 360 Degrees or 25020 Miles compass the whole Globe of the Earth For measuring of Land in England 40 Perch in length and 4 in breadth make an Acre of Land so called from the German word Acker and thaâ— from the Latine Ager 3â— Acres ordinarâ—ly make a Yarâ— Land and one hundred Acre are accounted a Hide of Land but in this and also in somâ— Weights and other Measuresâ— the Custome of the place is otherwise yet must be regarded Mensurae Receptionis or thâ— Receptive Measures are twâ— fold first of Liquid or Moâ—â— things secondly of Dry things About a pound Avoir dupois makes the ordinary smallest receptive measure called a Pint 2 Pints make a Quart 2 Quarts a Pottle 2 Pottles a Gallon 8 Gallons a Firkin of Ale 9 Gallons a Firkin of Beer 2 such Firkins or 18 Gallons make a Kilderkin 2 Kilderkins or 36 Gallons make a Barrel of Beer 2 Barrels a Hogshead 2 Hogsheads a Pipe or Butt 2 Pipes a Tun consisting of 2300 Pints or Pounds A Barrel of Butter or Soap is the same with a Barrel of Ale The English Wine Measures are smaller than those of Ale and Beer and hold proportion as 4 to 5 so that 4 Gallons of Beer Measure are 5 Gallons of Wine Measure and each Gallon of Wine is 8 pounds Troy Weight Of these Gallons a Rundlet of Wine holds 18 a Tierce of Wine holds 42 Gallons a Hogshead 63 Gallons a Pipe or Butt holds 126 and a Tun 252 Gallons or 2016 Pints To measure dry things as Corn or Grain there is first the Gallon which is bigger than the Wine Gallon and less then the Ale or Beer Gallon and is in proportion to them as 33 to 28 and 35 and is counted 8 pounds Troy weight Two of these Gallons make a Peck 4 Pecks a Bushel 4 Bushels the Comb or Curnock 2 Curnocks make a Quarter and 10 Quarters a Last or Weigh which contains 5120 Pints and about so many pounds so that in a Garrison of 5000 men allowing each but a pound of bread per diem they will consume
but to have expedition of Justice At the beginning of Parliament when the Oath of Supremacy is exacted of all those of the House of Commons yet is it not reqnired of any of the Lords because the King is otherwise assured of their Loyalty and Fidelity as is presumed In all Cases wherein the Priviledge of Clergy is allowed to other men and also in divers Cases where that Priviledge is taken away from other men every Peer of the Realm having Place and Voice in Parliament shall upon his Request by Stat. 1. Ed. 6. without burning in the hand loss of Inheritance or corruption of Blood be adjudged for the first time as a Clerk convict though he cannot read All Barons of England are exempted from all attendance at Sherives Turns or any Leets as others are to take the Oath of Allegeance A Peer cannot be outlawed in any Civil Action because he cannot be arrested by any Capias and by the same reason lies no Attachment against him By the Custom of England as is by the Law of the Empire Nobiles non torquentur in quibus plebeii torquerentur Nobiles non suspenduntur sed decapitantur yet this by the meer favour of the King and in some cases especially of Felony hath been otherwise sometimes For the suppressing of Riots and Routs the Sheriff may raise the Posse Comitatus that is â—all able men are to assist him yet may not the Sheriff command the Person of any Peer of the Realm to attend that Service A Baron of Parliament being sent for by the Kings Writ or Letter or by his Messenger to come to Court or to Parliament or to appear before the Council-Board or in his Court of Chancery may both coming and returning by the Kings Forest or Park kill one or two Deer In any Civil Trial where a Peer of the Realm is Plaintiff or Defendant there must be returned of the Jury at least one Knight otherwise the Array may be quasht by Challenge The Laws of England are so tender of the Honour Credit Reputation and Persons of Noblemen that there is a Statute on purpose to prohibit all offence by false reports whereby any scandal to their persons may arise or debate and discord between them and the Commons and because it is to defend not only Lay Lords but Bishops and all great Officers of the Realm it is called Scandalum Magnatum If a Peer of the Realm appear not upon a Subpena yet may not an Attachment be awarded against him as it may against a common person though of later times the practice hath been otherwise The House of a Peer cannot in some Cases as in search for Prohibited Books for Conventicles c. be enâ—â—red by Officers of Justice without a Warrant under the Kings own hand and the hands of 6 of his Privy Council whereof 4 to be Peers of the Realm No Peer can be assessed towards the standing Militia but by 6 or more of themselves The Law allowing any one of the Commonalty to be arâ—aigned for Felony or Treason in favorem vitae to challenge 35 of his Jury without shewing cause and others by shewing cause yet allows not a Peer of the Realm to challenge any of his Jury or to put any of them to their Oath the Law presuming that they being all Peers of the Realm and judging upon their Honour cannot be guilty of Falshood oâ— Favour or Malice All Peers of the Realm have a Priviledge of qualifying a certain number of Chaplains who after a Dispensation from the Archbishop if to him iâ— seem good and the same ratified under the Great Seal of England may hold Plurality of Benefices with Cure of Souls In this manner every Duke may qualifie 6 Chaplains every Marquiss and Earl 5 apiece every Vicount 4 and every Baron 3. A Peer of the Realm may retain 6 Aliens born whereas another may not retain above 4. In Case of Amercements of the Peers of the Realm upon Non-suits or other Judgements a Duke is to be amerâ—ed only 10 pounds and all under only 5 l. and this to be done by their Peers accordâ—ng to Magna Charta alâ—hough it is oft done by the Kings Justices instead of their Peers All Peers of the Realm beâ—ng constant hereditary Councellours of the King in his Great Council of Parliament and being obliged upon the Kings Summons to appear and attend in all Parliaments upon their own Charges are priviledged from contributing to the Expences of any Member of the House of Commons for which no levy may be made upon any of their Lands parcel of their Earldoms or Baronies any of their antient Demesnes Copyhold or Villain Tenants The Estates of all Peers of the Realm being judged in the Eye of the Law sufficient at all times to satisfie all Debts and Damages satisfaction is to be sought by Execution taken forth upon their Lands and Goods and not by Attachments Imprisonments of their Persons those are to be alwayes free for the Service of the King and Kingdome noâ— by Exigents or Capias Utlegatum c. Other Priviledges belong to the Peers of England as 8â— Tun of Wine Custome free to every Earl and to the rest proportionably c. Notwithstanding these great Priviledges belonging to the Nobility of England yet the greatest of them no not the Brother or Son of the King ever had the Priviledge of the Grandees of Spain to be covered in the Kings Presence except only Henry Ratcliffe Earl of Surrey as before Pag. 147. nor had ever that higher Priviledge of the Nobility of France whose Domain Lands and their Dependants holding them are exempted from all Contributions and Tailles whereby they are tied to their King and so enabled to serve him that although Rebellions are frequent yet seldome of long continuance and never prosperous whereas the highest born Subject of England hath herein no more Priviledge than the meanest Plowman but utterly want that kind of reward for antient Vertue and encouragement for future Industry Touching the Places or Precedences amongst the Peers of England it is to be observed that after the King and Princes of the Blood viz. the Sons Grandsons Brothers Uncles or Nephews of the King and noâ— farther Dukes amongst the Nobility have the first place then Marquisses Dukes eldest Sons Earls Marquisses eldest Sons Dukes younger Sons Vicounts Earls eldest Sons Marquisses younger Sons Barons Vicounts eldest Sons Earls younger Sons Barons eldest Sons Vicounts younger Sons Barons younger Sons Here note That it was decreed by King James that the younger Sons of Barons and Vicounts should yeeld Place and Precedence to all Knights of the Garter quateâ—us tales and to all Privy Councellours Master of the Wards Chancellour and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer Chancellour of the Dutchy Chief Justice of the Kings Bench Master of the Rolls Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Chief Baron of the Exchequer and all other Judges and Barons of the Degree of the Coise of the said Courts
Willmot Earl of Rochester Henry Jermin Earl of St. Albans Edward Montague Earl of Sandwich James Butler Earl of Brecknock Edward Hyde Earl of Clarendon Arthur Capel Earl of Essex Thomas Brudnel Earl of Cardigan Anthony Annesly Earl of Anglesey John Greenvile Earl of Bath Charles Howard Earl of Carlile John Craven Earl of Craven Thomas Bruce Earl of Alisbury Richard Boyle Earl of Burlington Vicounts Leicester Devereux Vicount Hereford Francis Brown Vicount Montague James Fiennes Vicount Say and Seale Edward Conway Vicount Conway Baptist Noel Vicount Camden William Howard Vicount Stafford Thomas Bellasis Vicount Falconbridge John Mordant Vicount Mordant George Savil Vicount Halifax Barons John Nevil Lord Abergavenny James Touchet Lord Andley Charles West Lord de la Warre George Berkly Lord Berkly Thomas Parker Lord Morly and Monteagle Francis Lennard Lord Dacres Conyers Darcy Lord Darcy and Menil William Stourton Lord Stourton William Lord Sandys de la Vine Edward Vaux Lord Vaux Thomas Windsor Lord Windsor Thomas Wentworth Lord Wentworth Wingfield Cromwel Lord Cromwell George Evre Lord Evre Philip Wharton Lord Wharton Francis Willoughby Lord Willoughby of Parham William Paget Lord Paget Dudly North Lord North. William Bruges Lord Chandos William Petre Lord Petre. Dutton Gerard Lord Gerard. Charles Stanhop Lord Stanhop Henry Arundel Lord Arundel of Warder Christopher Rooper Lord Tenham Fulk Grevil Lord Brooke Edward Montague Lord Montague of Boughton Charles Lord Howard of Charlton William Grey Lord Grey of Wark John Robarts Lord Robarts John Lovelace Lord Lovelace John Pawlet Lord Pawlet William Mainard Lord Mainard Thomas Coventry Lord Coventry Edward Lord Howard of Escrick Warwick Mohun Lord Mohun William Butler Lord Butler Percy Herbert Lord Powis Edward Herbert Lord Herbert of Cherbury Francis Seymour Lord Seymour Francis Newport Lord Newport Thomas Leigh Lord Leigh of Stonelty Christopher Hatton Lord Hatton Henry Hastings L. Loughborough Richard Byron Lord Byron Richard Vaughan Lord Vaughan Charles Smith Lord Carington William Widrington Lord Widrington Humble Ward Lord Ward Thomas Lord Culpeper Isaack Astley Lord Astley Richard Boyle Lord Clifford John Lucas Lord Lucas John Bellasis Lord Bellasis Lewis Watson Lord Rockingham Charles Gerard Lord Gerard of Brandon Robert Sutton Lord Sutton of Lexinton Charles Kirkhoven Lord Wotton Marmaduke Langdale Lord Langdale William Crofts Lord Crofts John Berkley Lord Berkley Denzil Hollis Lord Hollis Frederick Cornwallis Lord Cornwallis George Booth Lord de la Mere. Horatio Townsend Lord Townsend Anthony Ashley Cooper Lord Ashley John Crew Lord Crew c. Henry Bennet Lord Arlington John Freschevile Lord Fresschevile Richard Arundel Lord Arundeâ— of Trerice Of Temporal Lords or Peer of England there are at presenâ— about 170 whereof there arâ— 10 Dukes 3 Marquisses 6â— Earls 8 Vicounts and 78 Barons whereas within 60 yearâ— last past there was not onâ— Duke but one Marquiss abouâ— 20 Earls 3 or 4 Vicounts anâ— 40 Lords The Laws and Customs of England alwayes willing that Decorum and Conveniency should be every where observed and considering the Charges and Expences appertaining to the several Degrees of Honour as they belong to Men of Principal Service to the King and Realm both in time of War and Peace expected that each of them should have a convenient Estate and Value of Lands of Inheritance for the support of their Honours and the Kings Service Therefore antiently when the intrinsique value of a Pound Sterling was worth 30 l. of our Money now every Knight was to have about 800 Acres reckoned at 20 l. yearly in Land that is about 600 l. of our Money at this day A Baron to have 13 Knights Fees and one third part which amounted to 400 l. which multiplied by 30 was as much as 8000 l. a year at this day An Earl 20 Knights Fees and a Duke 40. And in case of decay of Nobility or that they had so far wasted their Revenues that their Honours could not decently be maintained as the Roman Senators were in such case removed from the Senate so sometimes some English Barons have not been admitted to sit in the Higher House of Parliament though they kept the Name and Title of Dignity still For the better support oâ— these Degrees of Honour the King doth usually upon the Creation of a Duke Marquiss Earl or Vicount grant an Annuity or yearly Rent to them and their heirs which is so annext to the Dignity that by no Grant Assurance or any manner of Alienation can be given from the same but is still â—ncident to and a support of the same Creation contrary to that Principle in Law That every Land of Feesimple may be charged with a Rent in Fee-simple by one way or other To a Duke the King grants 40 l. heretofore a considerable Pension to a Marquiss 40 Marks to an Earl 20 l. and to a Vicount 20 Marks To Barons no such Pensions is ordinarily granted onely the late King creating Mountjoy Blount the late Earl of Newport Lord Mountjoy of Thurlston granted him a Fee of 20 Marks per annum to him and his heirs for ever As the King of England hath ever had the repute of the richest in Domaines of any King in Europe so the Nobility of England have been accounted the richest in Lands of any Neighbouring Nation some having above 20000 l. yearly others 15000 and so many of them above ten that if one with another they have 10000 l. yearly it will amount to in all amongst the 160 Lords Sixteen hundred thousand pounds a year about the ninth part of the yearly Revenue of all England which upon Computation is found to be about Fourteen Millions yearly The English Nobility for Valour Wisdome Integrity â—nd Honour hath in all former Ages been equal to any in Christendom Every Lords House was a kind of a well disciplined Court insomuch that the Gentry Males and Females were wont to be sent thither for vertuous breeding and returned excellently accomplisht At home their Table Attendance Officers Exercises Recreations Garb was an Honour to the Nation Abroad they were attended with as brave numerous and uniform Train of Servants and Followers as any â—uâ—ope not thinking it consistent with their Honours to be seen walk the Streets almost in Cuerpo with one Lackey or not that much less to be found drinking in a Tavern c. If the English Nobility by â— long continued Peace excessive Luxury in Diet want oâ— Action c. were before thâ— late Wars born more feeble in body than their Ancestors anâ— by too fine and too full Dieâ— afterwards were rendred weaker in mind and then during thâ— late troubles by much licentiousness and want of fit Education were so debauched thaâ— it was lately difficult to finâ— as some are bold to affirme the Courage Wisdom Integrity Honour Sobriety and Courtesie of the Antient Nobility yet is it not to be doubted but that under a Warlike Enterprising Prince all those Vertues of their Fore-Fathers may spring afresh especially if we consider the vicissitude